Container fabrication



Jan. 26, 1965 J. AFsANlcK 3,166,995

CONTAINER FABRICATION Filed April 16, 1965 Lle INVENTOR Julius AfsclnickATTORNEY United States Patent Oce lbbg Patented dan. 26, 1965 fleCGNTANER EAERCATN .lutins Afsanicir, iwi-fi ltlth Si., Brooklyn, N

Filed Apr. 16, 1h63, Ser. No, 273,423 2 Claims. (Cl. 93u55@ Thisinvention relates generally to container fabrication and moreparticularly to machines for accomplishing such fabrication, to themethod of utilizing such machines and to container construction realizedthrough employment of such machines and method.

The instant invention has for an object the provision of means forproducing containers, such as hat-boxes or the like, wherein theappearance of uniinished external edges is substantially minimized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vinyl containerpossessed of elements aesthetic of appearance, said elements beingfunctional as well during the fabrication stages of said container.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a machinecapable of facilitating the fabrication of a container of the abovecharacter.

A still further object of the instant invention resides in the provisionof a method whereby containers of the present type.may be expedientlyproduced.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a deviceof the described character which will be simple in structure, pleasingof appearance, economical of manufacture, and effective and durable inuse.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a container produced in accordancewith the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the containerillustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the hollow cylinder which comprises anelement of the container fabricating apparatus;

' FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the hollow cylinderillustrated in FIGURE 3 wherein one of a plurality of pins providedthereon is shown in detail;

FIGURE 5 is a top View of the scalloped marginal` edges of the centralside-wall portion of the container positioned upon the pins providedwithin the hollow cylinder shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the fabricationapparatus and the container portions being united thereby; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the container portions showing thelaminated construction thereof.

It will be understood that the foregoing general objectives and thefollowing detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory butare not restrictive of the invention.

As thus illustrated, the hat-box or the like container is designated inits entirety by reference character i. Essentially, the containeraccording to this invention is cornprised of top and bottom portions 2and d, respectively, and a central side-wall portion 6, said top andbottom portions being preferably dimensionally pre-cut to the outsidediameter of the central sidewall portion, the latter being cylindricalas shown in FGURE 1 of the drawings. Said portions being externallyformed of vinyl 3 or other suitable material, are laminated as shown inFIGURE 7, a layer of urethane foam lid, and cardboard I2 being includedtherebetween, the obvious purposes thereof being to cushion and stiftensaid portions.

With reference to FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings it will be seen thatcentral sidc-wall portion 6 is provided with top and bottom marginaledges 14 and I6, respectively, the top marginal edge 14 shown in planview in FIGURE 5 being identical of configuration as the bottom marginaledge i6 seen in side cross-sectional elevation in FGURE 6. As will bedescribed hereinbelow following, said marginal edges, in the course ofproducing the end product are bent inwardly to thus lie parallel andadiacently with respect to inner surfaces 1S and Ztl of said top andbottom portions respectively, and accordingly appear as illustrated inFIGURES 2 and 6 of the drawings. Also, for the purpose to be disclosed,said scalloped marginal edges are provided with annularly arrangedequally spaced openings 22, said openings being readily observed byreferring to FIGURE 5 of the drawings.

The completed container as seen in cross-section 2 is formed of saidtop, bottom and central side-wall portions, said portions being weldedlyunited in sealed relation at peripheral points of contiguity asdesignated generally by numerals 2d in said FIGURE 2. Closure means 26provided substantially centrally of said central side-wall portion 6extends annularly of substantially the entire periphery of said portion6 and thus permits separation and closure of container 1. Said closuremeans as illustrated, comprises conventionally utilized zipper fastenermembers 2d and 3d, although any suitable fastener means may be similarlyutilized.

In forming and assembling containers in accordance with theabove-described construction, the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 3 and6 of the drawings is herewith employed. As will be observed withreference to FGURE 3, hollow cylinder 32 shown in perspective, iscomprised of top and bottom edges 34 and 36, respectively, rst ring 38being disposed internally and annularly thereof and adjacently of saidtop edge 3d. As shown in FlGURE 6, a second ring it? is also disposedinternally and annularly of said hollow cylinder 32, said hollowcylinder 32, said second ring being, however, adjacently of said bottomedge 36. Pins 42 projecting from said rings 33 and 40 are concentricallyarranged with respect to said top and bottom edges 3d and 36, the pinsof said rst ring being faced in the direction faced by said top edge,the pins of said second ring being faced in the direction faced by saidbottom edge, said pins being preferably spaced equidistantly of oneanother as shown in the drawings. Said pins are further retractablyrelated within said rings as illustrated in the enlarged sectional Viewof FIG1 URE 4, that is, pins d2 as shown singularly therein are slidablyreceived Within bores 44 provided within said rings, compression springd6 being disposed between bottom surface d3 of said pins and surface 50of said bores dd. Hence, a downward force exerted against said pins asshown by arrow 52 will cause said pins to lower into said bores dd.

Lower stationary die 5d shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings is adapted tosupport hollow cylinder 32, said cylinder being removably seatablethereupon. Upper movable die d6 is supported above said lower stationarydie and is movably spaced therefrom. Hydraulic cylinder 5S to which saiddie 56 is connected, supports said die and pressingly directs said dieagainst top edge 34 of said hollow cylinder 32 when said cylinder isarranged in seating engagement within said stationary lower die 54. Bothsaid upper and lower dies are provided with sealing means (not shown)which may be of the heated iiuid, electrical resistance, ultrasonic orother suitable sealing type, heat sealing being, however, consideredpreferable. Thus, it will be appreciated that regions 24 of thecontainer structure will be united by dint of the compressive andseaiing action of dies 54 and 56 acting upon hollow cylinder 32 and thecomponent parts 2, 4, and 6 of the container, said parts beingpositioned within the apparatus as described with more particularity asfollows:

aisance The method of fabricating the instant container structurecomprises the steps of positioning cylindrically-sh-aped wall portion 6externally of hollow metal cylinder 32, said metal cylinder being ofslightly smaller diameter than said cylindrically-shaped wall portion,bending the upper and lower scalloped marginal edges 14 and 16 over thetop and bottom edges 3d and 36 of said metal cylinder, placing pins L52projecting from rings 38 and 46 provided concentrically and internallyof said metal cylinder 32 through the openings 22 provided within saidmarginal edges to thereby retain said marginal edges over said upper andlower edges 34 and 36 of said metal cylinder positioning precut bottomportion d within lower stationary sealing die 54, placing said metalcylinder and said cylindrically-shaped wall portion over said bottomportion d and in axial alignment therewith, positioning precut upperportion 2 over the open end of said metal cylinder and in axialalignment therewith, activating hydraulic cylinder 58 to direct uppermovable sealing die against said upper portion and said metal cylinderto thereby integrally unite said upper and lower precut portions andsaid cylindrically-shaped wall Y portion.

Said upper and lower portions and said cylindricallyshaped wall portionas heretofore disclosed are surfacedly comprised Vpreferably of vinylmaterial and are thus readiiy united by conventional sealing methods,heat sealing being most commonly employed.

t will be appreciated that the completed container may be removed fromthe apparatus by first raising the upper movable die subsequent to thesealing operation, whereafter the metal cylinder and container may beremoved from the lower stationary die. The container may then be removedfrom the metal cylinder byV opening closure Leans 26 whereafter saidcontainer may be slidably re- Y moved therefrom as two half sections.

Once entirely removed from the apparatus, it will be noted thatextremity portions 60 of said marginal edges will be loosely superposedadjacently of surfaces 18 and 20 of said upper and lower portions,respectively, this condition being desirable and realized upon removalof the marginal edges from said pins 42.

The retractable nature of said pin 42 is desirable in the event saidupper or lower die assumes a contacting position therewith; that is theproblem of contact therebetween being thus obviated.

Although the preferred embodiments of the article of manufacture,apparatus and method of application thereof have been described, it willbe understood that within the purview of this invention various changesmay be 50 which generally stated consist in the disclosure set forth, asdisclosed and delined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An apparatus for the assembly of hat boxes or the lilie, comprisingin combination, a hollow cylinder having top and bottom edges, a rstring disposed internally of said cylinder and adjacently of said topedge, a second ring disposed internally of said cylinder and adjacentlyof said bottom edge, said first and second rings each having a pluralityof pins projecting therefrom, said pins being concentrically arrangedwith respect to said top and bottom edges, respectively; a lowerstationary die and an upper movable die, said hollow cylinder beingremovably seatable within said lower stationary die, said upper movabledie being adapted to pressingly engage said top edge of said hollowcylinder whereby pressure will be eiectuated between said lowerstationary die and said bot-tom edge of said hollow cylinder.

2. An apparatus for the assembly of hat boxes or the like, comprising incombination, a hollow cylinder having top and bottom edges, a first ringdisposed internally of said cylinder and adjacently of said top edge, asecond ring disposed internally of said cylinder and adjacently of saidbottom edge, said first and second rings each having a plurality of pinsprojecting therefrom, said pins being retractably related with saidrings, said pins being concentrically arranged with respect to said .topand bottom edges, respectively, the pins of said first ring being facedin the direction faced by said top edge, the pins of said second ringbeing faced in the direction faced by said bottom edge; a lowerstationary die and an upper movable die, said hollow cylinder beingremovably seatable within said lower stationary die, pressurel meansbeing provided for moving said upper movable die into pressing relationwith said top edge of said hollow cylinder, pressure between said lowerstationary die and said bottom edge of said hollow cylinder beingoccasioned by movement of said upper movable die against said top edgeof said hollow cylinder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,343,189 2/44Kaufman etal.

2,681,296 6/54 Dobbs et al. 156--69 2,697,969 lf2/54 Ahlrneyer et al93--55.1 2,693,275 11/59 Smith 206-8 2,966,833 1/61 Leibreich 93-55.1

FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

LOUS G. MANCENE, BERNARD STICKNEY,

' Examiners.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR THE ASSEMBLY OF HAT BOXES OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING INCOMBINATION, A HOLLOW CYLINDER HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES, A FIRST RINGDISPOSED INTERNALLY OF SAID CYLINDER AND ADJACENTLY OF SAID TOP EDGE, ASECOND RING DISPOSED INTERNALLY OF SAID CYLINDER AND ADJACENTLY OF SAIDBOTTOM EDGE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND RINGS EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF PINSPROJECTING THEREFROM, SAID PINS BEING CONCENTRICALLY ARRANGED WITHRESPECT TO SAID TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES, RESPECTIVELY; A LOWER STATIONARYDIE AND AN UPPER MOVABLE DIE, SAID HOLLOW CYLINDER BEING REMOVABLYSEATABLE WITHIN SAID LOWER STATIONARY DIE, SAID UPPER MOVABLE DIE BEINGADAPTED TO PRESSINGLY ENGAGE SAID TOP EDGE OF SAID HOLLOW CYLINDERWHEREBY PRESSURE WILL BE EFFECTUATED BETWEEN SAID LOWER STATIONARY DIEAND SAID BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID HOLLOW CYLINDER.